Tiffany sails through ISAF World Youth Championships…

At the recent ISAF (International Sailing Federation) World Youth Championship in Canada, sixteen year old Sport Northern Ireland funded athlete Tiffany Brien sailed in at thirteenth place. Only one athlete was selected per country to compete in each class at the World Championships with Tiffany being chosen to as the only sailor to represent Ireland in the Girls Radial Class.

Richard Honeyford, RYA NI (Royal Yachting Association NI) Performance Manager, believes this is a result well earned.

“This is quite an achievement for a young sailor who only joined the Radial Class last September. At this time there were no events and Tiffany commenced winter training in preparation for her summer Radial events pushing herself extremely hard. Most other competitors in these championships would have probably had the advantage of participating in previous years, so I think to be ranked thirteenth is a great accomplishment and will give her the experience that can only drive her forward”.

Tiffany began sailing competitively in 2003 and has since gone from strength to strength within her sport. Until 2005 she competed in the Optimist class achieving great success, then progressing to the Laser 4.7 Class. 2006 was again a triumphant year for Tiffany as she was ranked third in Ireland and was 1st female at the 4.7 Irish Nationals. Last year she also competed in the 4.7 World and European Championships, spurred on by achievement in this class Tiffany made the transition into the Radial Class which is the main single handed Women’s Olympic class in September last year and was selected for the Irish Youth Academy.  

There is no time for rest for Tiffany as she will now start to prepare for her second World Championships in just under a month, the Radial Youth Worlds which take place in Holland from 4-12 August.

Professor Eric Saunders, Chairman of Sport Northern Ireland said of Tiffany’s success,

“Sport Northern Ireland is delighted to fund talented young athletes like Tiffany through our Athlete Support Programme. We are committed to raising the standards of sporting excellence and we congratulate Tiffany on her achievements to date and wish her well in her forthcoming World Championships in Holland”.

Tiffany Brien in sailing action              Picture courtesy of ... onEdition